~Iditarod Club~

A family in our homeschool group started an Iditarod Club and the girls are really excited about it. We've already attended one meeting - they had so much fun and learned alot, too! They learned about the early 1920 settlers going to Alaska to look for gold and how during the winter their only means of travel into the gold mines was by dog sleds. The trail they used to get to the gold fields is today known at The Iditarod Trail. This trail became the major thoroughfare through Alaska and that is was used to deliver mail, supplies and to get to place to place. They, also, learned about the 1925 serum run to Nome. They were told about how the U.S. purchased Alaska from the Russian Empire in 1867 and in 1958 it was officially proclaimed a state. So, they had a nice little history lesson, too!

The club will follow this year's race and the kids will be doing fun projects at each meeting. On Feb. 8th, Starved Rock State Park is hosting dog sled demos so the girls are really excited to go see the dogs!